
Angolan journalist Rafael Marques de Morais explainshow—despite his country’s recent economic success—the ruling party, which has held power for 38 years, has only further consolidated its power. Violent repression and systematic violation of human rights in Angola are on the rise. High economic growth has had little impact on the lives of the majority of Angolans because of institutional corruption that keeps wealth in the hands of a few leaders. Furthermore, much of the recent development in Angola is in partnership with Chinese companies that do not employ local workers, build structures of poor quality, and cost the country greatly in oil reserves, its most valuable natural resource.